Omaha daily bee., 1887-03-13
SUNDAY GOSSIP.

earlier settlers II was the announcement OF
the death of Mrs. Annie Dean Chopper, half
sister of the once famous actress,
Julia Dean Uayne. Two weeks be-
fore her death she had dream In
which she saw her approaching end, saw her
body laid in the coffin, and the scene i'm
pressed itself so vivldy on her mind that she
observed the dress in which she was
clothed, the manner in which her hair was ar
ranged. and even the ornaments in her col
lar. All efforts on the part of her friends to
laugh away this unpleasant memory were un-
availinR She believed that her hour was
approaching, and at the time she especially
charged her friends that when she died she
wanted to be clothed just as she had APP
peared to herself in the coffin. Her request
was complied with, and the corpse was
dressed for burial and every detail arranged
as she had particularly requested, even to the
position of the head.
%*~
Mrs. Annie Dean Chopper was the wife of
Colonel John y. Chopper, who died in
Denver about three years ago. Colonel Clop-
per and his wife were for number Of years
residents of Omaha. When the Caldwell
block was built Colonel Chopper, John |.
Redick and S. s. Caldwell united and built
the Academy of Music, now the Peoples
theatre. Mrs. Chopper was very handsome
woman and moved in the best circles of
Omaha society. Her sister Julia Dean
Hayne was the leading character in the first
theatrical entertainment ever witnessed in
Omaha The performance was given in the
summer of 1890 in the dining room of the
Herndon house. now the Union Pacific head
quarters. "rhave wholly forgotten who the
other actors were or what the play was" said
an old settler. 81 do not think the company
were OH a professional tour, as they had no
scenery. They borrowed bolt of muslin at
Tootle & JacksOn's store to make the cur
tain"
"THE newspaper men will always remem-
ber the late Henry Ward Beecher with kind
regard" remarked an old New York re-
porter last evening. "Of all prominent pub
lie men l think he was the most approach
able. Even during his great trials-both
church and state-the eminent divine was
affable to the humblest scribe though the
latter may have been connected with paper
that was antl-Beecher and duty assigned
him that was to discoor the bright plush of
Plymouths pulpit. True 1t is that his coun
sci and friends kept Henry Ward Beecher as
much alOof as possible from interviews by
press representatives, and we'll they might,
lead--.that never fell from the great preach
ers mouth, and Bohemian transations were
given to his expressions as far removed
from the truth as an Egyptian
hieroglyphc is from hanging order to a
sheriff.
"The last time I met Henry Ward Beecher
was in the Bracket house, Rochester, N. Y,
when he and his private secretary we're on
their way to Salt Lake. This was sometime
after the last trial and shortly subsequent
to the time when he was chosen chaplain Of
the Thirteenth (Brooklyn) regiment Of the
New York National guard. He had been
absent from home several days, having made
the trip to the point named via the Erie road
| as he wished TO pay q visit to his brother,
Thomas, in Emira. 1 found him in the hotel
parlor waiting for the western train. He
| was reading by the aid of half burned wax
candle which he held in his hand close TO the
paper, although there was the usual ample
gas light in the room. Very pleasantly he
remarked that his eyesight had grown dim
| and necessitated a nearer light than
| that generally afforded by the
| illuminating fixtures in public places
He said he was making western trip, per-
haps for the last time, and that only one
more extensive journey was in his contempla-
ton, and that was across the sea. Il hate
he said, to go to Europe and have people
ask me about places of note in my own coun-
try, and then have to confess never saw
them. Hence, intend to make very close
observations during this western Journey
On being asked II he did not think the ordeal
through which the Tilton scandal had forced
him would occasion him rather unpleasant
publicity, he said he had never given that
matter thought since the case had ended
in the courts. In fact, as the newspapers had
made it their own property, he did not even
then have first mortgage on the scandal. 1t
50 happened that on the day referred to Frank
Leslies illustrated journal had arrived With
the first pare picture representing Henry
Ward Beecher in the full military dress
of the chaplain of the Thirteenth. When 1t
was shown HIM for the first time he laughed
heartily and remarked that the picture was
very life-like indeed, especially as he had
never worn the uniform and in fact had not
| at that time ordered 1t. He hoped however,
| that the tailor would make as good fit az
| the sketch artist had and also as cheap.
Wendell Phillips had lectured in Rochester
that night on Daniel O'COnnelL' When
| Mr.. Beecher heard of this he became very en-.
thusiastic In praise of the great orator,
and expressed his regret at not being in the
| city at an hour that would have permitted his
attendance at the lecture. Wendell and
| have been friends for lifetime.' he said,
and there is only one thing have to blame
him for. He ought to have been a minister.
What good he could have done! Yes, he
might have been chaplain of militia regi-
ment. and l do not doubt in the least that
had he taken clerical orders he would have
been the target of scandalous tongues and
pens. One thing is certain. however, he has
done more than regiment OF soldiers and
preachers for the freedom of the negro, and
If Ireland had one or two such cham
pions, that distressed country would need no
Fenan organization
x*x
"Just before MI. Beecher departed for the
west Wendell Phillips arrived at the depot
to take the train for the east. The meeting
between the two great American orators was
OF the most cordial character, and prOfuse
regrets we're heartily expressed that they
were not going in the same direction. Thus
ended an interview ever to be remembered.
Henry Ward Beecher, of course, had not
thought of Grover Cleveland's candidacy
| A.